Finding Me
by Viola Davis
Davis's memoir of a childhood in poverty and violence in Rhode Island, the drive that took her through Juilliard to the stage and screen, and the long work of making peace with where she came from. It is unsparing and generous at once, and it is about resilience without ever using the word as a slogan.
Read it if…
you want a memoir about rising from a hard start that does not sentimentalise the start.
Skip it if…
you want a Hollywood tell-all; this is interior.
Three things you will actually use
- Your past is a place you can visit without living there.
- Craft is the way through when charm is not an option.
- Healing is work, not an event.
Do this first
Read the chapters on Juilliard for what it costs to be told your instrument is wrong.
Our verdict
Resilience without the slogan.
Compare with other Resilience books
Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing
Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman · Resilience
Your response to pressure, explained.
CLICK TO SEE
Browse all Resilience book reviews or get the free Reality Code Cheat Sheet.
As an Amazon Associate, WisdomDeck earns from qualifying purchases. Links marked “Click to see” go to Amazon. We are not paid for opinions, prices and availability are not shown here and change on Amazon, and we never see your purchase details. Nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice.